I HAVE A DREAM

Dykes wants to be Scottish icon like old pal McFadden

LYNDON DYKES has his sights set on achieving international immortality with scotland — and becoming a Tartan Army messiah just like early mentor James McFadden.

The Aussie-born centre-forward is in line to win a first cap in Friday night’s Nations League clash with Israel at Hampden following the withdrawals of injured pair Oli McBurnie and Lawrence shankland.

And he insists that being ‘up there with the best’ is his ultimate aim. Having turned

down the Socceroos to represent the country where both his parents were born, the £2million QPR striker is adamant that Scotland are within touching distance of a first major finals since 1998.

With one eye on the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against the Israelis just over a month away, the former Livingston star declared: ‘I want to be an international player and I want to have a great career for Scotland. I want to be up there with the best.

‘I played with James McFadden at Queen of the South and I spoke to him before I came here. ‘That’s someone I look at and think: “I want to be like him”. He was great for Scotland.’

Explaining his link with fans’ favourite McFadden, forever remembered for the wonder goal he scored against France at the Parc des Princes in 2007, Dykes revealed that he is still in touch with the former Scotland star.

The Gold Coast native with family roots in Dumfriesshire said: ‘He came in with (manager) Gary Naysmith and he was a great lad. I got on with him straight away and he gave me great advice. He taught me a lot — on and off the pitch. ‘I speak to him for advice in my career as well. I’ve rang him up loads of times and he’s always had good words to say to me — and has always been there for me. He’s been top class to me.’ Reminded that ‘Faddy’ had been known to dye his hair, something Dykes did to amuse himself at the height of transfer speculation surrounding a potential move to Rangers, the 24-year-old laughed: ‘I’ve seen a couple of his hairstyles, so I might need to pull something out!’

In line to start on Friday, Dykes could mark his first call-up not only with a first cap — but a place in the starting XI. ‘I obviously saw that McBurnie pulled out,’ he said. ‘But I’ll just keep my head down in training and, whatever the manager wants me to do, I’ll do my best to do it.’